Fitzpatrick focused on revenge mission
Glen Fitzpatrick netted Drogheda's crucial equaliser at Belfield last Friday.
IT'S not often that a point against a struggling team who have been reduced to 10 men is welcomed, but that was the feeling of Glen Fitzpatrick after Drogheda's 1-1 draw at Belfield last Friday. The striker bagged his second penalty in consecutive away games to rescue a draw for the Boynesiders and give them some semblance of momentum going into this week's Louth derby at Hunky Dorys Park. 'We were playing against 10 men and didn't take advantage,' the 29-year-old reflected this week. 'But on balance it was probably a point gained. We dominated the second half, but I think the game could have been out of reach by half-time if they'd taken their chances.'
In scoring against the club for whom he made his League of Ireland debut way back in 1998, Fitzpatrick moved level with fellow striker John Flood as the club's top scorer on four goals.
And although Drogheda are without a win in seven games and staring relegation in the face, Fitzpatrick insists it's not all doom and gloom on the training ground.
'It's been hard the last few weeks, but I can't put the finger exactly on what's happened. There's a good spirit in the camp and Darius would be very popular with the players.
' We've had one or two hiccups like the Bray game, but other than that our performances have been decent.
' We should have got something out of the Bohs game, and how we didn't win in Galway I don't know because we had so many chances.
'It's not as simple as saying that our luck has to change, but at the same time a bit of luck would have been nice in the last couple of games because we could have got more points on the board.'
Fitzpatrick is hoping that change of fortune will come on Friday against Dundalk, who themselves haven't tasted victory in more than two months.
'They've beaten us twice this season and we drew up there early in the season, but we've been playing well and hopefully we can carry that form into Friday,' Fitzpatrick said.
'The Louth derby would be similar to the Dublin ones I've played in, with big crowds and a lot of tension, and they're very important games.
'We're due a win against them and there's pressure on us, with Bray on top of us, so we realise how important it is to get a win under our belts.'
- Marcus CAVAROLI
